Info Center > Scripture Lesson >
Chewing The Cud: Emor

Torah Reading for Emor

 

In Israel: Behar

Parshat Emor

Shabbat, 13 Iyar, 5779

18 May, 2019

SELECT A PORTION:

1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7thHaftarahComplete

Haftarah: (Ezekiel 44:15-31)

Please note: These Haftarah texts follow Chabad custom. Other communities could possibly read more, less, or a different section of the Prophets altogether. Please consult with your rabbi.

BothEnglishHebrew

Ezekiel Chapter 44

15But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of My sanctuary when the Children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me, and they shall stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood, says the Lord God.   טווְהַכֹּֽהֲנִ֨ים הַֽלְוִיִּ֜ם בְּנֵ֣י צָד֗וֹק אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁמְר֜וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֚רֶת מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ בִּתְע֚וֹת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵֽעָלַ֔י הֵ֛מָּה יִקְרְב֥וּ אֵלַ֖י לְשָֽׁרְתֵ֑נִי וְעָֽמְד֣וּ לְפָנַ֗י לְהַקְרִ֥יב לִי֙ חֵ֣לֶב וָדָ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה:
But the priests, the Levites: [i.e., the priests, who are] of the tribe of Levi.    
the sons of Zadok: Since he was the High Priest who served as the first one in the Sanctuary of Solomon’s days, they are called by his name.    
when… went astray: [Heb. בִּתְעוֹת,] quand ils erraient, in Fr., when they strayed.    
16They shall enter My Sanctuary, and they shall approach My Table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.   טזהֵ֜מָּה יָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֗י וְהֵ֛מָּה יִקְרְב֥וּ אֶל־שֻׁלְחָנִ֖י לְשָֽׁרְתֵ֑נִי וְשָֽׁמְר֖וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּֽי:
17And it shall be, when they enter the gates of the Inner Court, they shall be clothed with linen garments and no wool shall be upon them when they minister the gates of the Inner Court and within.   יזוְהָיָ֗ה בְּבוֹאָם֙ אֶל־שַֽׁעֲרֵי֙ הֶֽחָצֵ֣ר הַפְּנִימִ֔ית בִּגְדֵ֥י פִשְׁתִּ֖ים יִלְבָּ֑שׁוּ וְלֹא־יַֽעֲלֶ֚ה עֲלֵיהֶם֙ צֶ֔מֶר בְּשָֽׁרְתָ֗ם בְּשַֽׁעֲרֵ֛י הֶֽחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִ֖ית וָבָֽיְתָה:
when they enter the gates of the Inner Court: the Inner Sanctum on the Day of Atonement.    
and no wool shall be upon them: They shall not wear the blue wool that was in the robe and girdle on the Day of Atonement during the service in the Inner Court.    
18Linen hats shall be upon their heads, and linen breaches shall be upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves in a place that sweats.   יחפַּֽאֲרֵ֚י פִשְׁתִּים֙ יִֽהְי֣וּ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔ם וּמִכְנְסֵ֣י פִשְׁתִּ֔ים יִֽהְי֖וּ עַל־מָתְנֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א יַחְגְּר֖וּ בַּיָּֽזַע:
they shall not gird themselves in a place that sweats: We learned in a baraitha (Zeb. 18b, 19a): They do not gird themselves in a place where they sweat, neither above their elbows nor below their loins, which is a place of sweat, en la suor in O.F., on (whatever causes) sweat. Another explanation: The Torah prohibited the priests from wearing woolen raiment because wool causes the body to sweat (not found in some editions).    
hats: [Heb. פַאֲרֵי.] c(h)apelas in O.F., hats, head dress.    
19But when they go out into the Outer Court, into the Outer Court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they minister and place them in chambers belonging to the Sanctuary and clothe themselves with other garments, and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.   יטוּ֠בְצֵאתָם אֶל־הֶֽחָצֵ֨ר הַחִֽיצוֹנָ֜ה אֶל־הֶֽחָצֵ֣ר הַחִֽיצוֹנָה֘ אֶל־הָעָם֒ יִפְשְׁט֣וּ אֶת־בִּגְדֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֙מָּה֙ מְשָֽׁרְתִ֣ם בָּ֔ם וְהִנִּ֥יחוּ אוֹתָ֖ם בְּלִֽשְׁכֹ֣ת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וְלָֽבְשׁוּ֙ בְּגָדִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְלֹֽא־יְקַדְּשׁ֥וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם בְּבִגְדֵיהֶֽם:
into the Outer Court, into the Outer Court: Since he was speaking of the Heichal and the Inner Sanctum, and he called them the “Inner Court,” and in relation to them, he should call the Israelites’ Court an “Outer Court,” he therefore had to double it twice to say that he is speaking of the Men’s Court, the area that all Israel enter.    
and place them in chambers belonging to the Sanctuary: as stated by our master Moses, may he rest in peace (Lev. 16:23): “after that, he shall take off the linen garments which he had put on, etc., and he shall leave them there.”    
and they shall not sanctify the people: [Heb. וְלֹא יְקַדְשׁוּ אֶתהָעָם, lit. they shall not sanctify the people.] Jonathan renders: and they shall not mingle with the people in their garments, [i.e.,] they shall not touch the people with their holy garments, for ordinary garments are not ritually clean as regards [contaminating] holy garments.    
20And [the hair of] their heads they are not to shave but also not to let it grow wild; they must be careful to trim the hair of their heads.   כוְרֹאשָׁם֙ לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֔חוּ וּפֶ֖רַע לֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑חוּ כָּס֥וֹם יִכְסְמ֖וּ אֶת־רָֽאשֵׁיהֶֽם:
And [the hair of] their heads they are not to shave: to remove all the hair.    
but also not to let it grow wild: They may not let their hair grow very long.    
they must be careful to trim: [Heb. כָּסוּם יִכְסְמוּ, (to cut the hair so that it appears)] like spelt (כֻּסֶמֶת) , which is arranged on the ear [with] the end of one beside the root of another. So I heard in the name of Rabbi Menahem of blessed memory. It is possible to explain it as an expression for a measure of a medium thing, neither shearing [all the hair of] the head nor letting the hair grow long, but a medium amount, amo(d)ler in O.F., to cut to medium length.    
21And wine may no priest drink when they come into the Inner Court.   כאוְיַ֥יִן לֹֽא־יִשְׁתּ֖וּ כָּל־כֹּהֵ֑ן בְּבוֹאָ֖ם אֶל־הֶֽחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִֽית:
when they come into the Inner Court: to the Heichal.    
22And neither a widow nor a divorced woman may they take for wives, but they shall take virgins from the descendants of the House of Israel; also the widow who is only a widow, some of the priests may marry.   כבוְאַלְמָנָה֙ וּגְרוּשָׁ֔ה לֹֽא־יִקְח֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם לְנָשִׁ֑ים ×›Ö´Ö¼Ö£×™ אִם־בְּתוּלֹ֗ת מִזֶּ֙רַע֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהָֽאַלְמָנָה֙ אֲשֶׁר תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה אַלְמָנָ֔ה מִכֹּהֵ֖ן יִקָּֽחוּ:
but… virgins: may the High Priests take. But there are some priests who may take a widow, namely, the ordinary ones, and this is the meaning of “some of the priests may marry” ; there are some priests who are permitted to marry a widow.    
who is only a widow: A real [widow], excluding a divorcee and a woman upon whom the rite of chalitzah was performed; although she is unmarried, she is forbidden even for an ordinary [priest].    
23And My people shall they teach the difference between holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the impure and the pure.   כגוְאֶת־עַמִּ֣י יוֹר֔וּ בֵּ֥ין קֹ֖דֶשׁ לְחֹ֑ל וּבֵֽין־טָמֵ֥א לְטָה֖וֹר יֽוֹדִעֻֽם:
24And in dispute they shall stand in judgment, according to My ordinances shall they decide it; and My teachings and My statutes shall they keep in all My appointed times, and My Sabbaths they shall sanctify.   כדוְעַל־רִ֗יב הֵמָּה יַֽעַמְד֣וּ לְמִשְׁפָּ֔ט(כתיב לְִשְׁפָּ֔ט) ×‘ְּמִשְׁפָּטַ֖י יִשְׁפְּטֻ֑הוּ(כתיב וִשְׁפְּטֻ֑הוּ) ×•Ö°×Ö¶×ªÖ¾×ªÖ¼Ö½×•Ö¹×¨Ö¹×ªÖ·Öš×™ וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ בְּכָל־מֽוֹעֲדַ֣י יִשְׁמֹ֔רוּ וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י יְקַדֵּֽשׁוּ:
25To no human corpse shall they come to defile themselves, except to father and to mother and to son and to daughter, to brother and to a sister who has had no husband, shall they defile themselves.   כהוְאֶל־מֵ֣ת אָדָ֔ם לֹ֥א יָב֖וֹא לְטָמְאָ֑ה ×›Ö´Ö¼Ö£×™ אִם־לְאָ֡ב וּ֠לְאֵם וּלְבֵ֨ן וּלְבַ֜ת לְאָ֗ח וּלְאָח֛וֹת אֲשֶׁר־לֹא־הָֽיְתָ֥ה לְאִ֖ישׁ יִטַּמָּֽאוּ:
26And after his purification they shall count seven days for him.   כווְאַֽחֲרֵ֖י טָֽהֳרָת֑וֹ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים יִסְפְּרוּ־לֽוֹ:
And after his purification: and after he has separated from the corpse. So was it taught in Moed Katan (15b).    
27And on the day that he enters the Sanctuary, into the Inner Court, to minister in the Sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, says the Lord God.   כזוּבְיוֹם֩ בֹּא֨וֹ אֶל־הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ אֶל־הֶֽחָצֵ֚ר הַפְּנִימִית֙ לְשָׁרֵ֣ת בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ יַקְרִ֖יב חַטָּאת֑וֹ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה:
And on the day that he enters: into the Sanctuary for the first time to initiate himself into the service, he shall offer up his sin-offering; this is his one tenth of an ephah [of flour]. In Moed Katan (16a) the following is taught: the regular priest requires one tenth of an ephah on the day of his initiation, as it is stated (Lev. 6:13): “This is the offering of Aaron and his sons, etc.” and as is explained in Tractate Menachoth (51b).    
28It shall be to them for an inheritance, I am their inheritance; You shall give them no possession in Israel, I am their possession.   כחוְהָיְתָ֚ה לָהֶם֙ לְֽנַֽחֲלָ֔ה אֲנִ֖י נַֽחֲלָתָ֑ם וַֽאֲחֻזָּ֗ה לֹֽא־תִתְּנ֚וּ לָהֶם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲנִ֖י אֲחֻזָּתָֽם:
It shall be to them: the priesthood, for an inheritance.    
29The meal-offering and the sin-offering and the guilt- offering are they to eat, and everything that is vowed to be banned in Israel shall belong to them.   כטהַמִּנְחָה֙ וְהַֽחַטָּ֣את וְהָֽאָשָׁ֔ם הֵ֖מָּה יֹֽאכְל֑וּם וְכָל־חֵ֥רֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לָהֶ֥ם ×™Ö´Ö½×”Ö°×™Ö¶Ö½×”:
and everything that is holy [Heb.: ×—ֶרֶם,] an expression of sanctity, and so is every expression of חֶרֶם [when used] in the context of hallowed things.    
30And the first of all the first-fruits, and every heave-offering; everything from every sort of your heave- offerings shall belong to the priests; also the first out of your kneading-troughs shall you give to the priest, to bring enduring blessing into your home.   לוְרֵאשִׁית֩ כָּל־בִּכּ֨וּרֵי כֹ֜ל וְכָל־תְּר֣וּמַת כֹּ֗ל מִכֹּל֙ תְּרוּמֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם לַכֹּֽהֲנִ֖ים ×™Ö´Ö½×”Ö°×™Ö¶Ö‘×” וְרֵאשִׁ֚ית עֲרִיסֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ תִּתְּנ֣וּ לַכֹּהֵ֔ן לְהָנִ֥יחַ בְּרָכָ֖ה אֶל־בֵּיתֶֽךָ:
to bring enduring blessings into your home: [Heb. לְהָנִיחַ,] aposer on O.F., (to cause) to rest, settle, as in (Exod. 10:14): “and it rested (וֳיָנָח) throughout all the borders of Egypt.”    
31Anything that has died of itself or is fatally wounded, whether it be bird or beast, the priests may not eat.   לאכָּל־נְבֵלָה֙ וּטְרֵפָ֔ה מִן־הָע֖וֹף וּמִן־הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה לֹ֥א יֹֽאכְל֖וּ הַכֹּֽהֲנִֽים:
Anything that has died of itself or is fatally wounded, etc.: Since nipping the neck of the bird sin-offering was permitted, which is [tantamount to] an animal that died of itself or was fatally wounded [since it is not the normal method of slaughter], he had to warn them concerning [eating] other creatures that died of themselves or were fatally wounded. So our Sages explain.